Valve cage



Feb. 22, 1949. C, E, BRDWELL, 2,462,605

VALVE CAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Sept. 2, 1944 INVENTOR. CHALON E' BR/DWELL Patented Feb. 22, 1949 ETD STATES PTENT FICE Application September 2,

4 Claims. (Cl. 277-70) My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a pumping mechanism adapted for use primarily on deep wells, such as oil wells and the like. The invention resides primarily in the valve structure used in the pumping mechanism. In seme types of wells, it is necessary that the valves close quickly and experience has shown that, in many instances, closing by gravity r in response to the pressure of the column of liquid above is not suniciently quick to prevent the back flow and thus reduce the volume of the pump. In order to eiect a rapid closing of the valve, I have provided a spring structure which will operate upon the valve.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in a pumping mechanism oi this type a valve construction so arranged that a plurality of valves may be arranged concentrically and a spring operative for pressing one of said valves to closing position in such a manner that the other valve is also moved to closing position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a pumping mechanism of this type a valve construction having a guide tube with a spring receiving cup formed therein so as to retain the spring centered over the slidable valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction in which lateral shifting of the valve may be prevented so that a bowing of the spring is avoided.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention itself and it is intended that such changes and modifications shall be encompassed within the scope of the claims which form a part hereof.

Forming a part ci this specification are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a central, vertical, sectional view of a pumping mechanism, showing the invention applied;

Fig. 2 is a central,V vertical, sectional view of a pumping mechanism showing the invention applied and taken at a point below the location of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a central, vertical, sectional view oi the lower end of the pump taken at a point below the position in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged, longitudinal, central, sectional view of a valve cage showing the invention applied, with a slight modification;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4;

1944, Serial No. 552,529

2 Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line E-i of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, I have illustrated the invention used with a pump having a tubing connecting at its lower end to an anchor shoe lil, which connects at its lower end to a gas separator tube ll carrying on its lower end a cull plug i2, the tube H having the openings It formed therein for the inlet of fluid. The anchor shoe IB is provided with a seating surface lil against which seats the seating collar l5 carried by the hold down tube l on which the sealing cups l1 are mounted. This hold down tube is connected at its upper end to the pull tube I8 which is connected at its up er end to the pull tube i9, which connects to the plunger 2B. This plunger 29 connects at its upper end to a valve cage 2l having the inwardly projecting flange 22 against which is clamped, by means of the plunger 2B, the peripheral flange 23 of the valve seat 24, this valve seat having a central opening formed therethrough lined with the bushing or lining 25. Pressed into the valve cage 2l is a tube 2li having openings 2l formed therein. Pressed into the lower end of this tube 2i; in inverted position is a tube 2S in which engages one end of a coil spring 2S. The other end of the coil spring engages the inverted Culp-shaped valve forming member 35 which is provided with a recess 3l on the outer surface of its bottom. This valve member 3@ is adapted to engage at the end faces of its open end with the valve t 24 and effect a closing thereof. Slidably po tioned so as to nest in the member 33 is a valve member 32 having a cup-shaped formation on its lower end so that it also engages at the end edges of its open side with the face of the valve seat 2t.

Surrounding the valve cage 2i is the travelling barrel 35 having the abutment cellar Sii secured at its lower end and connecting at its upper end to the plunger 38. This plunger 38 connects to the lower end of the valve cage 3% and serves to clamp against the inwardly projecting flange te, the @peripheral ange Lll of the valve seat l2 through which extends a central opening which is lined by a liner or bushing 43. Pressed into a passage formed in the valve cage 39 is a tubular sleeve 4E having the openings i5 formed therein. Pressed into this sleeve is a cup-shaped member 46 which is in inverted relation and into whichv extends one end of the coil spring lli. The opposite end of this coil spring rests in the recess 48 formed in the outer face of the bottom of the cup-shaped valve 49 which is adapted to engage at the end faces of its open end with the end Vof the invention. This face of the valve seat 42. Slidably positioned in this cup-shaped valve 49 is a valve member 50 having its lower end formed cup-shaped so that it also may engage at the end faces of its open end with the end face of the valve 42.

The Valve cage 39 is provided with a threaded stud 5| to which is secured the end of the sucker rod 52. In operation, when the sucker rod 52 is moving upwardly, the valves 4S and 5S will be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the valves 3e and 32 will be in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the reverse stroke begins or is about to begin, the valve 32 will move downwardly. This valve 32 nts as a sloppy fit in the member 30 so that there is sulicient clearance around the valve 32 to permit liquid to now into the cupshaped valve 3l), in the event the valve 32 moves downwardly on to its seat ahead of the valve 30.

The valve 30 in its movement onto its seat will be assisted by the pressure of the spring 39.

I use a pair of valves seated against the end face of the seat so that the cutting action of sand nlled liquid may be reduced to a minimum. This cutting action generally results from foreign material engaging between the seat and the valve and holding the valve spaced vfrom its seat at one side. By using a pair of valves arranged concentrically as shown, this cutting action is avoided because if one of the valves should be held spaced slightly from its seat by foreign material, it is quite unlikely that the other valve will be similarly eifected, so that one or the other of the valves will be closed and the ow of the sand bearing liquid eifect. By having the valves 30 and 32 arranged as shown, the valve 32 is free for movement independently of the valve 30 so that should the valve 38 not move rapidly enough to prevent back flow, the valve 32 may move outwardly from the cup-shaped member 30 and elfect the desired closing. Projecting inwardly from the valve cage 2l are the ribs 53 which are spaced apart slightly from the cup-shaped member 35 but sufficiently close to serve as guides should there be any attempt at lateral shifting. This will prevent distortion of the spring 29, as lateral shifting would permit the spring to bow slightly between its ends.

The valve 4S is similarly guided by the inwardly projecting ribs 53a. and the function and operation of the valves 4S and 50 and the spring 41 is the same as the function and operation of the valves 3@ and 32 and the spring 29.

With this valve construction, a highly efcient sealing mechanism is provided in a pump particularly adapted on pumps where scarring and slicing has already begun to manifest itself and flow has ceased.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a slight modication modification may be adapted either in the travelling cage 39 or in the standing cage 2l. with a tube 44a having the openings 45a. Into this tube @da is pressed the cup-shaped member lita in which engages one end of a coil spring 41a, engaging at its opposite end in the recess 48a formed in the outer face of the bottom of the cup-shaped valve 29a. The plunger 38a serves to clamp against the inwardly projecting flange 40a of the valve cage 39a, the peripheral flange 44A of the valve seat 42a through which is formed an opening lined by the liner or bushing a. This structure is the same as that shown in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 2. Instead of using a valve such as the valve 5t in Fig. l or the valve 32 of Fig. 2, I use a ball 59 which seats on the inclined surfaces 'l0 The cage 39a is provided Y formed on the end edges of the seat 42a and the bushing 43a. The function of the ball valve B9 is similar to the function of the valves 32 and 50, excepting that it does not engage the end 5 face of the seat. In the form shown in Fig. 4, the valves are independently movable and the advantages referred to for the form shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are present also for the form shown in Fig. 4.

What I claim as new is: l. In a valve construction of the class described: a valve cage; a valve seat mounted on the lower end of said cage and having an opening therethrough for passage of liquid therethrough; a tubular member mounted in said valve cage above said seat in the path of ow of liquid through said Valve and having lateral opening therethrough; an inverted cup-shaped member xedly mounted in said tubular member; a plurality of concentrically arranged valves in said cage, each movable independently of the other and engageable with said valve seat for closing and opening therethrough and controlling ilow of liquid therethrough; and resilient means engaging at one end with said cup-shaped member and its other end the outer of said valves for normally urging the same to closed position.

2. In combination: a valve cage; a. valve seat mounted on said valve cage and having an opening therethrough for passage of liquid therethrough; a ball valve positioned in said cage and engageable with said seat for closing the opening therethrough and controlling ilow of liquid therethrough; an outer valve positioned in said valve cage and embracing said ball valve and engageable with the end face of said seat for controlling flow of liquid through the opening in said seat, each of said valves being movable independently of the other; and resilient means in said cage for normally urging said embracing valve to closing position.

3. In a construction of the class described: a valve cage; a valve seat mounted on the lower end of said valve cage and having an opening formed therethrough for passage of liquid into said valve cage; a plurality of concentrically arranged valves engageable with said seat for closing said opening and controlling flow of liquid therethrough, said valves being movable independently of each other; a tubular member fixed in said valve cage above said valves in the path of ow of liquid through said valve, and provided with lateral outlet openings; a cup-shaped member fixed in said tubular member in inverted position; and a spring engageable at one end with the inner face of the base of said Vcup-shaped member and at its other end with the outer of said valves for normally urging the same to Closing position.

4. In a construction of the class described: a valve cage; a valve seat mounted on the lower end of said valve cage and having an opening formed therethrough for passage of liquid into said valve cage; a plurality of concentrically arranged valves engageable with said seat for closing said opening and lcontrolling the ow of liquid therethrough, said valves being movable independently of each other, said valve cage above the location of said valve when in closed position having its internal diameter enlarged to provide a larger internal space; a tubular member fixed in said valve cage above said valves in the path of ow of liquid through said valve and provided with lateral outlet openings, said tubular member projecting at one end into said enlarged space of 75 said cage; a cup-shaped member xed in said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Glace Sept. 'Kelsey Sept. Haines Nov, Grant Apr. Pippin Oct. Norway Oct.

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